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SWIM has just been prescribed this medication as a mood stabilizer, and an anti-seizure medication to 'play it safe' while tapering off his long-term use of benzodiazepines. SWIM was wondering if any other SWIY's out there have had experience with it. Over the past few days, he does feel slightly more mellow... And one strange side effect where everything sounds lower in pitch than it used to be (sound of cars starting, songs SWIM knows sound transposed down a key, etc.) which is really strange and kinda trippy. Wondering if he will get over this after using it for longer than just a few days.

Any SWIYs on DF been prescribed this medication? The US name of the medication is Tegretol. Any input would be appreciated

SWIM knows all about this semi-tone lowering side effect from Tegretol. SWIM was also prescribed this med for benzo withdrawal. SWIM has this musical side effect as well and wants to know the best way to taper off Tegretol so it goes away.

All synthetic drugs are evil in swims opinion, they've done nothing but make him worse. This filth, tegretol, made him temporarily impotent while taking it. Pretty much the last thing he needed at the time, and it did nothing for pain.

What fun the medical establishment must have surpressing perfectly usable natural compounds, while promoting synthetic nonsense which hardly ever works, all in the name of profit.

All synthetic drugs are evil in swims opinion, they've done nothing but make him worse. This filth, tegretol, made him temporarily impotent while taking it. Pretty much the last thing he needed at the time, and it did nothing for pain.

What fun the medical establishment must have surpressing perfectly usable natural compounds, while promoting synthetic nonsense which hardly ever works, all in the name of profit.

Vampires!

Funny.

The only naturally occurring voltage-gated sodium channel blocker I could find were alkaloids from plants in the rather toxic Aconitum genus. The alkaloids of these plants can be classified into three groups:

I think I'd rather have a ready made, clean, selectively-targetted synthetic pill than taking my chances trying to separate these alkaloids without HPLC & EC detection.

Fortunately for you, our understanding of medical science improves daily, allowing us to refine these drugs to reduce side effects. Unfortunately, plants do not. You'll also notice how less likely it is that Carbamazepine will kill you.

Personally, speaking only for swimyself, he would be better off if there was no such thing as synthetic drugs. His condition would be better treated if he'd lived 100 years ago.

He wasn't taking it for epilepsy, but nerve damage. It caused nothing but further problems, along with the other lot of anti-convulsants and SSRI's being used questionably for pain relief. Wasted nine months ploughing through all this nonsense.

They'll be prescribing them for silphilis next, anything to boost the profit margin of their overlords.

Even mention anything that actually works and has zero side effects, like a natural opiate, and all of a sudden swim is a pathetic diseased addict.

Um....because mirtazapine and carbamazepine aren't addictive? You're not supposed to take benzos on a daily basis.

You'll notice doctors aren't the ones actually selling you your meds, nor are they supposed to have any financial connection with drug companies.

I don't know about the US, but doctors in Europe are the biggest penny-pinchers going. If they are a dispensing practice (as many are), they have huge deals with drug company sales reps. They will much rather prescribe a drug that is a penny by the bucket-full.

SWIM experienced with carbamazepine before he was prescribed 300 mg/day for night seizures. SWIM heard carbamazepine has a recreational value took 5 200 mg pills, waited for 2 hours and felt nothing. then he popped 5 more 200 mg pills and was wasted for about 2 days.. awfully wasted.. SWIM could not move normally, he had to crawl to the bathroom to pee, could not speak coherently, and all voices, were one tone lower. also swim could eat at all during the nasty 'trip'. SWIM found cinarizine to be helpful for regaining equilibrium while walking.

2 months later SWIM was prescribed 300 mg/day for night epilepsy-like seizures. indeed, carbamazepine stopped the seizures but SWIM had mr SPOCK effect.. more exactly no mood. now SWIM is taking valpoic acid (depakine chrono) instead of carbamazepine and he's much more better.

SWIM experienced with carbamazepine before he was prescribed 300 mg/day for night seizures. SWIM heard carbamazepine has a recreational value took 5 200 mg pills, waited for 2 hours and felt nothing. then he popped 5 more 200 mg pills and was wasted for about 2 days.. awfully wasted.. SWIM could not move normally, he had to crawl to the bathroom to pee, could not speak coherently, and all voices, were one tone lower.